Ahoy, squirts! Quint here with the first review of Eli Roth's HOSTEL out of Toronto! I was expecting a lot more reviews, so hopefully we'll have more come in very soon. The first is a big thumbs up! Enjoy!
Hi Harry. I’m a long time reader of AICN from near Toronto Canada, just back from the Toronto International Film Festival screening of Eli Roth’s Hostel. The first public showing was held at 12:45pm this afternoon, followed by a Q&A with Eli, and stars (gorgeous) Barbara Nedeljakova and Eythor Gudjonsson. Eli described the print was a “work in progress”. The movie kicks ass! The intensity and tension is like nothing that has been seen in any recent horror movie. Like the TIFF website states, the film starts very low key and builds to scenes that were nothing short of shocking. The most frightening part about this movie, in my opinion, is the fact that it is not a too hard to imagine that the back story that Eli has created to explain the events of the film could really happen. In fact, I saw it hours ago and I can’t get it out of my mind. (SPOILER – this type of thing probably is happening if you believe the rumors that in some parts of the world you can hunt and kill human beings for the right price). It was a sell-out crowd of horror fans that couldn’t help but burst into an uproar at the creative and often brutal violence, and the surprise cameo by legendary Japanese horror film director Takashi Miike. Judging by the noise generated by the crowd during and at the end of the movie, everyone loved it.
Eli described the film we saw as the director’s cut. I’m sure that I speak for everyone who was there when I say that I’m concerned that the final theatrical release will be edited down way too much. That would be a shame, both for horror fans and for Eli. As brutal as the scenes were, they are important for the story. But there is a positive note if that happens…..Eli told us that he hopes to release the same director’s cut on the DVD, and also with an alternate ending. I can’t wait.
Eli has redeemed himself from the somewhat lackluster (although enjoyable) Cabin Fever, and this movie will create a lot of new fans. Go and see it! You won’t regret it.
Mike Ford
Georgetown, Ontario
Canada
